***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Young People, Attorneys, Advocates, Providers, Clergy, Unions, and Impacted New Yorkers Unite in Coalition to Defend New York’s Landmark Raise the Age Law

“The Coalition to Protect Raise The Age: Build Futures, Invest In Youth” Brings Together 221 Organizations Statewide

Coalition Will Work to Preserve the Law, Combat Misinformation, and Promote Community-Based Investments That Deliver True Public Safety

(ALBANY, NY) — Young people, attorneys, advocates, service providers, clergy, unions, and impacted New Yorkers — representing organizations across the state — today unveiled The Coalition to Protect Raise the Age: Build Futures, Invest in Youth, a statewide alliance of 221 organizations committed to preserving New York’s landmark Raise the Age law, combating misinformation, and promoting investments in youth that deliver true community safety across New York State. In addition to this launch, the Coalition has already held a legislative briefing with lawmakers on Raise the Age and its importance, and will launch a paid digital campaign in December to help educate New Yorkers about the crucial law.

In April 2017, Albany enacted historic legislation raising the age a person is automatically prosecuted as an adult in New York to 18. Before that, New York had the shameful distinction of being one of only two states in the country — along with North Carolina — to charge all 16- and 17-year-olds in adult criminal court, subjecting teenagers who were not even eligible to vote to permanent criminal records and adult prison sentences.

Since the law went into effect in 2018, Raise the Age has advanced a more just and effective approach to youth accountability. The law emphasizes rehabilitation, education, and community-based alternatives that give many young people the opportunity to change course while promoting lasting public safety. Decades of data show that treating children as adults in the criminal legal system does not reduce crime or violence.

The Coalition is calling on lawmakers to reject any effort during the upcoming legislative session to roll back Raise the Age and instead ensure the law’s full implementation by releasing nearly $1 billion in unspent state funds. These dollars were promised in order to build the community-based programs, counseling, mentoring and continuum of services for youth that make accountability meaningful and lasting. New York must let those investments take root to strengthen youth opportunity and public safety, not turn back the clock on progress.

Year after year, data from New York City show that children under 18 are responsible for a smaller share of violent crime than they were a decade ago — before the Raise the Age law took effect. Young people now account for a declining proportion of arrests for felony dangerous weapons offenses (including gun charges), felony assaults, and felony robberies.

Moreover, there is no evidence to suggest that adults are exploiting teenagers to carry guns or commit acts of violence following Raise the Age. As researchers note, if “youth violence were caused by policies [like Raise the Age] preventing the prosecution of youth as adults, law enforcement data would show violence among juveniles under age 18 to be distinct and generally worse than trends among adults aged 18 and over.”

The Raise the Age law ensures that young people accused of serious offenses are still held accountable. All felony cases against 16- and 17-year-olds begin in adult criminal court. Cases involving allegations of significant physical injury, display of a deadly weapon, or sexual offenses — or where the judge finds “extraordinary circumstances” — remain in adult court, where adult sentencing applies. And for youth prosecuted for serious offenses in family court, judges can impose a range of potential dispositions including incarceration.

Evidence shows that community-based programs and services for young people who have contact with police is the surest way to promote community safety. This year’s state budget must include more pathways for unspent state dollars to reach counties and community-based organizations, including adopting the Youth Justice Innovation Fund (YJIF). Every county must have a continuum of services that includes prevention, early intervention, and alternatives to detention, placement and incarceration.

Read a PDF of the full press release here.